Friday, Sept 15

2:15 p.m.

Departing Pittsburgh for Rwanda

The van left Graystone in Indiana amid hugs, kisses, and prayers from friends and family. Our intrepid driver, Terry Semsick, Christian Educator at Blairsville United, delivered us through traffic and construction to the airport in good order with plenty of time to spare.

We cleared security uneventfully, and made our way to the gate to find our flight delayed. Fortunately, it wasn’t delayed as long as they predicted, but upon our arrival in Newark, we had to move right along to make our connection in Brussels. We had no time to get the quick dinner we had planned. We thought the flight would be boarding as we arrived, rushed to our gate, only to find we were delayed once again.

We finally got to board at 7:00 p.m., our old scheduled departure time. With all passengers settled, we sat on the runway until 8:00 p.m. It was nearly 9:00 p.m. before we got our on-board dinner, a long time since our noon lunch in Pittsburgh! The weather had been rainy, and even at 32,000 ft. we suffered some turbulence, requiring us to leave our seatbelts on.

After dinner was time to really settle in for this nearly 7-hour flight. Reading, writing, sudokus and dozing...we whiled away the night and the long flight.

No sooner were most of us sound asleep, then it was arrival time at 2:00 a.m. US time. The sun was rising over the Celtic Sea, but it was 8:00 a.m. in Brussels, Belgium as we felt the jet making its long, linear descent. We were about 50 minutes from landing as passengers were stirring about the cabin, stretching, pacing, and starting to gather belongings.

As we flew further into the sunrise of Saturday, September 16, we could see the ocean below, the clouds above, and by the end of this new day, we knew we would be in Africa for the sunset.

 
Click on map
to enlarge

Saturday, Sept 16

7.00 p.m.

Arrive at Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda

Saturday, September 16 - Our arrival in Brussels was non-eventful. At the bright and clean airport, we began to see a shift in cultures. Many French-speaking, some Nordic, some Africans. Two cups of coffee and two bottles of water cost $12 US dollars.

As we waited in queue to board, there were 2 tiny African women with us, speaking language we did not know. We suspected that were nuns, and that was confirmed when the airport chaplain greeted them, and then introduced himself to us.

Betty Grunstra explained to him that we are Presbytery mission group going to Rwanda.

The flight was very full, and we note now that announcements are in French first, English second.

This 8-hours flight is stretching painfully on as tired and stiff, we wait our arrival in Kigali. A seat companion is a cardiac pediatrician from Kigali, returning there from Brussels. He shared some history, culture and facts about Rwanda. He freely spoke of the genocide and said the survivors really do want to talk of it. He told us that in April, there are 100 days of special memorials and event to commemorate the events of the 1994 genocide. We talked of things such as the Presbytery Center for Street Children and the continuing issue of trying to provide for them, and but not having a home to give them.

AIDS, the genocide widows, huffing (aerosol sniffing) among the street children, the price of real estate, banana beer, the genocide museums, health care, lack of socialized medicine...these were all subjected covered by French-speaking Dr. Joseph who appreciated the opportunity to practice his English that he learned at university.

We also talked about how the people are not willing to forgive or forget, but know they must move on and work toward re-building their government and their country.

While flying over the Sudan, the sun set on our first day in Africa.

We arrived at the airport to be met by a large group of Presbyterians that included Eugene, Pascal Bataringaya, Juvenal Rmamunyana, the Gen. Secretary of Rwanda Presbytery, John Baptiste, his son Jean Claude and more people than we could name. Drivers and helpers rushed to take over baggage.

Instead of going to the Mille Colline (the real Hotel Rwanda) as we had planned, they arranged for us to stay at the Presbytery guesthouse, and had prepared a wonderful meal and reception to welcome our group.

We finally settled into our rooms more than 24 hours after departing, anxious to brush our teeth, shower and climb under our mosquito netting. Our schedule is to be up at 6:15, breakfast at 7:00, and leave for church at 8:00.

Kanombe International Airport

First night accommodations at the Hotel des Mille Colline, featured in the movie, Hotel Rwanda -- See the travel report... moved to the Presbytery Guest House

Sunday, Sept 17

9:00 a.m. – 12 :00 noon

Sunday service at a church in Kiyovu district - Visit with Olivier Munyansango, 2004 International Peacemaker

5:30 a.m. - Large, raucous birds woke us early with the rising sun shining directly in our window. Our mosquito netting kept us bug free, but guard dogs barking through the night caused some fitful sleep.

The garden (yard) surrounding our rooms are fragrant and beautiful. The sun’s heat increased as it continued its climb.

Today we will attend worship with our new friends and get to see the city by daylight. Our Dr. Joseph said there are many beautiful houses, but everybody’s yards/gardens are behind high places with heavy gates. And so it is at this place. To look out into the street, we must go to the brick wall and then look through the iron fencing sections. Many homes with high walls have lined the tops with shards of broken glass sticking upward or barbed wire to keep out intruders. We wonder was it this way before the genocide?

The home across from the guest house is very beautiful and large from what we can see beyond its fence and gate. It clings to the top of one of the many hills, its garden in the front, but the hillside dropping away behind it. It is not the average Kigali house, but perhaps that of a well-to-do businessman.

The staff at the guest house can be heard chatting as they prepare breakfast for our group. Many people have cellphones, perhaps a status symbol.

The members of our group are stirring, stepping out to view the fresh morning.

After our breakfast at the guest house, our driver took us on a slow drive to Kabuga parish for church services. Most everybody walks here, and the poverty level is staggering. Because of the dry season, people have to transport their water home in 5 gallon cans weighing approx. 40 lbs. each. What was truly amazing is that most people carried 4 of these cans at a time up winding narrow dirt paths from the valley floor up to their steep hillside homes. It seems that for many, the daily work consists of only carrying water. And when one source of water is found, many people will gather there. To see them moving along the hillside paths, reminds us of ants carrying food back to their nests.

We arrived at the church, and while being welcomed by so many people, the sounds of the children singing and the vibrant, rhythmic music drew us quickly inside. Our pastor, Olivier, had promised us 6 choirs, and we surely had them! We estimated the congregation at approx. 300, with about 200 of them being exuberant, joy filled singers! We all enjoyed this time singing and dancing with the children. The children surround us with traditional African cheek touching, and we respond by calling Muraho (hello) to them as greeting. It’s one of the few words we say well in Kyrwanda, but our muraho takes them by surprise and they beam with huge smiles. We take many pictures and are able to show them back to them in the camera. They love to see themselves!

Music went out for at least a full hour, before the formal worship began with more singing by each choir individually. All the pastors wear a bright and vibrant green. This is not for liturgical reasons, but because this is the chosen color to represent their Presbytery. We heard everything from the Angel Choir to the Widows Choir, which consisted of widowed genocide wives.

Translators were spaced along our group to interpret the worship as it went along. Our Presbytery Moderator, and pastor at St. Pauls and St. Benedicts, Rev. Marty Cartmell, presented a truly inspirational message interpreted by Rev. Eugene, based on Psalm 133 and Romans 12, about the body of Christ, and that we are all one in Him.

After a service that ended at 12:30, we toured the Kabuga Parish church and project buildings. We saw the room where the widows make there beautiful floor mats, and handmade soap, and also their new project of baking bread to sell in the market place. We saw their banana grove, their goats, and their chickens and turkeys. Pastor Olivier also showed us the garden where they are growing lemons to have a product to sell, and to also have for better health for the children. We were shown their beautiful school, which is two large rooms that should hold about 35 students each, but their student population is about 300, and they must build four new rooms before school resumes in January.

In the second class room we were served a wonderful meal of traditional African foods. At this point, the team had one of their few (to date) mishaps when Boyd Edmondson and Donna Doutt unwittingly ingested an unidentified food item. Disguised as, what looked to be, a tortellini, it turned out to be the hottest pepper grown in Africa, strong enough to kill intestinal parasites. At the time, there was a little concern over their reactions and their ability to recover from this food. But once it was realized they were in no real health danger, it was used for lots of good humor and fun. Every team member received a gift of hand embroidered doilies and napkins, and then we were presented with a traditional African gift of a goat, which they offered to keep until our return. After some discussion, it was agreed that the goat’s new name would be Kiskiminetas. There was a lot of laughter because our African friends have difficulty saying Kiskiminetas. We asked that any kids produced by the goat, be given to a congregation family.

After many prayers and some more singing, we tried to move on our way back to view more of Kabuga parish. It’s hard to get away...the children cling and want to touch. We share the traditional greetings and teach them some American-style handshaking.

Pastor Olivier comes with us to show us something special.  We see much of the life-perilous conditions there. Pastor Olivier proudly leads us along a dirt road to a banana grove and explains that this is the future site of a university for the Presbytery. We can see another one of his churches on the hillside far across the valley.

4.00 p.m.

Visit Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre

(rescheduled for later in the week)

Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre
 

6.00p.m.

Back to the Rwanda  Presbytery Guest House in Kiyovu

After a drive through the business part of the city, we returned exhausted from the day’s activities to a generous meal of avocado, chicken, beans and rice (a staple at every meal), fried potatoes (another staple at every meal) and bananas and passion fruit.

After a group meeting and a short time of prayer, we went to our guest rooms for much-needed showers and rest. Perhaps this night’s sleep will be better for us.

Presbyterian
Guest House
at Kiyovu (translated from French)

Monday, Sept 18

8.00-9.30 a.m.

Morning meditation  and orientation at the Presbytery of Rwanda

Our breakfast was at 7:30 this morning. Some of the group members had better sleep last night. As we usually do, we all gathered together in the guest house dining room. When we arrived, Chuck Bollinger was chatting with a man from Maine who is working on building foundations for his own church, who has stayed at the Presbytery house before.

After breakfast, we joined the Presbytery of Rwanda staff for devotions, followed by orientation with Rev. Juvenal Rwamunyana, General Secretary of the Presbytery. He began by saying we should be at home here in Rwanda, and the purpose is to exchange experiences and build partnerships. Our group leader, Kay Smith asked what expectations were for us, and he responded that they need help in education, pastor’s work, and youth.

Find out more about the Eglise Presbyterienne au Rwanda

9.30 a.m.

-Visit the Centre Presbyteriene d'amour de Jeunes         -USA Embassy

-Women's workshop

Today’s journey began with a trip to the Centre Presbyteriene d’armour de Jeunes, (Presbytery Center for the Love of Youth. Our Presbytery donated $100 as a gift and 4800 pencils. After bumping over dry, rutted roads covered in red clay dust, and getting lost several times, the gates of the Center opened to reveal many children in a rainbow of brightly colored uniforms circled chanting and doing team-building exercise. We met with the director of the program, Siprion, for some private time and conversation when he shared the background and how the center came to be in 1998. After the genocide of 1994, so many children were left with no parents and with no one to care and love them. The Center originally opened with 15 children, but now serves 175 every day of the year.

The programs included primary school, secondary children (who come after school), and vocational classes in barbering, manicuring, and sewing. We visited the students in their classrooms, and then moved on to the women’s group.

The women involved in this group are HIV/AIDS positive, and their children were being served by the Center. Many are widows of the 1994 genocide and have AIDS as a result of the rapes that occurred during the genocide. The Center wanted to offer a form of help to the mothers of the children that are at the Center, so a class began to teach them basket making. Their baskets are sold at the Center and some through markets. The money they earn by selling their baskets goes to help feed them and their families. The woman who spoke for the group explained that their life was short and they were trying to prepare for their family’s future.

Our tour continued as we viewed the outbuildings and grounds. The pigs and the rabbits they raised are sold for profit, and enough money had been raised to build a dormitory for the boys. The dormitory consisted of two small rooms. Their hope is to build a newer and much bigger dormitory. We saw the foundation that has been prepared for two years, but no money was available to compete the building. The director indicated that it would cost approximately $6,000 to complete the dormitory, but when it’s done, some of the children will not need to return to the streets at night.

We went to the common areas of the children’s classrooms where there were many, many rows of children that appeared to be seated by classroom by the color of their uniforms. As seems to be the custom everywhere we go, we were greeted by a choir of children. We have all observed that when these children sing, their exuberance and absolute joy can be seen on their faces and heard in the beautiful voices. The team-building leader, who had once been a student there, and is  now an employee with two children of his own, led the children in what we called the LOVE cheer. With African drums beating, a group of young people danced up the aisles to perform traditional African dancing, first as a group then boys and girls separately. Toward the end of their performance, each dancer pulled one of us to our feet, and next thing, we were all participating in African dance!

After our exhausting dance, we were served another traditional meal of beans, rice and potatoes, and soda. The students were served the same lunch. We all, including the children, were served our meal out of colorful bowls that we ate at our seats. The mass of children, approximately 150 children were quickly and efficiently served by only 8 workers. We noticed that no children spilled their food or drink even though they were tightly sitting together on their benches.

After expressing thanks all around, we went back to the women’s center and bought baskets for approx. $6 US dollars or 3,000 francs, to bring home for friends and family.

As we departed, there were so many children that followed us with goodbys. The despair that they may enter with, was turned to joy inside the gate. A true blessing for them, and us.

Centre Presbyteriene d'amour de Jeunes (Presbyterian Center for Street Children)

(translated from French)

3.00 p.m.

Visit Kabuga
–       Church
–       University Site (changed to another day)

Congregation of the Masaka Church in Kabuga

6.00 p.m.

Back to Kigali

We returned to our guest house still talking about the joy and love at the Center. Exhausted from this adventure, we began an evening of rest.

While some members rested, others decided to walk. As we strolled along around the block of the guest house, we heard singing from the sanctuary of the Presbyterian church that adjoins our building. We entered to find a group of men and women, the choir, practicing their songs, a capella. We quietly slipped into the pews and listened to their beautiful harmonies and the cavernous accoustics. No microphones needed here.

It’s possible that every member of this team will always think of Rwanda as the singing country.

Tomorrow our scheduled is changed, and we will be working with the masons on brick making. We must be very well rested.

Tuesday, Sept 19

8.00 a.m.

Leaving Kigali for Gitarama

After our breakfast this morning, dressed in our work clothes, we loaded up the van with our many pieces of luggage, and all our team and headed out to Gitarama, a drive of about one hour on a very good road.

9.00 a.m.

Visit to Gitaramo and Kabadah Parishes and work on sanctuary building

We arrived at the church of the Gitaramo Parish to be greeted with joyful welcome of music and song and an entourage of the elders and pastors that serve the Gitaramo Parish. After the official greeting from the group, we loaded up once again to head out to Kabadah Parish.

We were to work with the brick masons laying a brick floor in a church that would serve as the foundation for the cement floor of their new church. They had been constructing the building for two years, but because of funding they couldn’t complete it. The original building that housed this congregation had been destroyed during the genocide when the Interhamwe (the genocidiers) had fired missiles from the top of the hill and they exploded in their church. The cost of finishing off with the roof and windows would be approx. $15,000.

The work was tedious, hauling hand made brick from the top of a hill to the bottom of a path. The sense of community was astounding. Everyone who could carry, if even one brick, carried bricks. We saw old men with canes, women with babies on their backs, children, and men... all carrying brick. Our interpreter, a young man named John Claude, and Kay Smith had a challenge hauling brick to see how many they could carry at once. Kay was holding her own with a record of 10, but John Claude ended up beating her by carrying a record-breaking 11 bricks. Not even the hefty guys like Jack Loucks or Boyd Edmondson could beat Jean Claude. Oh to be so young! The people laughed our antics, and we teased back and forth with them all the time we worked.

The sun was very high and we were all hot and tired, when they called us away to a cool circle in the trees, where they had prepared an alter. As we climbed the hill once last time, we could hear the drums starting and we knew we were in for another one of the wonderful services that would include the jump and dance that makes their worship so vibrant. This particular service was almost surreal as we sat in this circle of trees that hung on the side of a 4000 foot mountain and experienced our God half way across the world. In another culture,in another language, we all knew we were one.

As is the case with many of these worship services, there were many choirs...each more exciting and buoyant than the next.

After the choirs finished, the Evangelist Andrew, who was the leader for the group, presented to us a gift. In a very emotional ceremony, he explained that in their many trees were many bees, and that because of the sweet love they had for us, he presented a gift of sweet honey to each member of the team. The joy that they gave with this gift was beyond words, and many of us were brought to tears by their humble beauty and faith.

With heavy hearts and a yearning to return to help them finish their work, we could barely make our way back to the van because of the crush of the people who wanted to personally bid us good-by with the typical Rwanda embrace.

afternoon

We are delivered to the homes of our host families

We could not hold back our emotions as our van bumped down the mountain. At once, it was an uplifting, yet heart-wrenching experience.

Our Pastor Juvenal, surprised us by stopping at a point near the top of the mountain and told us to get out of the van. As we all tumbled out, ooohing and aaahing over the view, he unloaded a box we had picked up earlier, that included sweet pretzels and wonderful Rwanda fruit juices.

Around mid-afternoon, we arrived at the Tranquility Café in Gitaramo town where we dined on, once again, the traditional food of beans, rice, potatoes, but this time offered with some coleslaw and meat.

After the meal, Pastor Juvenal, our interpreter, and Regional President of Gitaramo Parish, matched us up with our host families that we would spend four nights with during the course of the week. Each member departed by van or private car, while some that were close by walked to their host homes to begin the next adventure of our trip. We did not know until the next day how our experiences varied. Some went with business people, some with pastors, some with genocide widows. No matter who they were, they welcomed us with open hearts and homes. They, more than we, have the gift of true hospitality.

Wednesday, Sept 20

morning

Visit to Munsenyi Parish

We were early out again, this time to visit the Munsenyi Parish of Gitarama. Once again, our van climbed high mountains, with dusty, rutted roads. The villages line the roads in clusters.

Coffee is an important product, but most Rwandans drink tea. Starbucks purchase much of Rwanda’s coffee. As we pass these steeply terraced villages, we see tarps laid out on the ground with coffee beans drying. The coffee trees start at the edge of the roads and march up and down the terraces.

As wherever we go, the people greet us with open arms upon our arrival in Munsenyi. We hear them starting the generator for the electric keyboards that are in many of the churches. They beat the drums to let people know we’ve arrived, and more and more people come. Over and over again, we greet with the traditional cheek touch of right, left, right and then a shake of the right hand with the left hand clasped around the recipient’s right arm. Over and over again, we say MURAHO! (hello), or our new word for the day, MIRAMUTSE! (Good morning).

We begin the tour at the church school compound at the nursery school class. It seems like there are maybe 50 “toddlers” in this class, and their beautiful and elegant teacher showed us how the children count to 20 in French. Kinyarwanda is the traditional language here, but children learn French starting in the primary school and English at university.

We move on to the primary class rooms. They have 216 children in their primary school, but only 2 classrooms, so each class of an average 55 children only can attend ½ days. In the other half of the day, the rest of the children can fill their seats. A short distance across the yard is the foundation for several more classrooms. But as with everything here, there’s never enough funding. In this school, the Rwanda Presbytery helps construct the buildings, and teachers are paid by the government.

We wander back to the church, greeting more children and people as we move on. There, they have their music and their jump and sing for us. Pastor Marty read from Psalm 19, verses one and two, and presented our greeting here. The dancing is infectious, and as it is most everywhere we go, we get to join in at our own level of participation.

Finally, we head back down the mountain, but stop once again for a picnic lunch of bread and beverages. As we sit on a hillside on a flat rock, the primary children are heading to school. They all want to come close to the Mazungas (white people). Before long, we’ve attracted quite a crowd. A man comes along and tries to shoo them away, but each child must touch at least one of us before we board the van.

On the trip back down the hill, we see a large crowd gathered, and our interpreter tells us this is a local genocide trial.

12.00 noon

Greeting from President of the Rwanda Presbytery and visit to Mpushi village.

In the afternoon, the President of the Rwanda Presbytery, Rev. Elysee, come to the Gitarama church to give us our “official welcome”. He reaffirms and re-commits himself to the Rwanda Partnership. He explains that as the country moves forward and leaves the genocide war behind, he has approached many countries and invited them come, but we are the only ones that offered to go to Rwanda.

After the reception with the President, we pile in to the van to head back up another of the mille collines (thousand hills) to Mpushi village. This road is worse than any. Not just rough...we’ve all turned in to human bobbleheads!

While it is very late in the day, the people are still waiting to greet us with the drums and the jump and song. These people cannot worship without the jump and song to show their joy to Jesus, and their love of Him. This community is very, very poor but these people are a good example that possessions do not bring happiness. Their joy with their life, their church, and their God is something money cannot buy.

They have an evangelist (their term of lay pastor) Leonard, and he explains the history of the church, and that also when the people need money they help by lending them. We are surprised, because it seems there is little money available.

As darkness settles in, we can barely see, but the song and jump continues, even as we prepare our departure.

We have a little concern for traveling in the darkness. There are some safety concerns, but we arrive back to our host homes safely, to partake in the abundant evening meal and settle in for rest. Our night is filled with heavy rain that includes thunder and lightning. This is a blessing in this country, for it means that tomorrow they may not need to carry their water. God is good.

Thursday, Sept 21 

8.00 a.m.

Leaving Gitarama for Murambi

This day started in Gitarama with a two-hour drive to Nyamagabe near Butare town. The roads were good, but as we traveled farther south, we were mildly surprised by the change in the weather. This is the beginning of the rainy season and the closer we got to Butare, the harder it rained. By the time we reached the parish, we had left the hard top roads and were passing over a dirt road that was almost less than one lane wide in a torrential downpour. At one point, the road was too narrow and rutted so the driver deemed it unpassable. We had to back up the road and find a place to turn around (and there are few of those).

We eventually made it to the parish church of Karubanda to pick up the pastor who would accompany us and help to host and translate for us here. This is the first female pastor we’ve encountered. She is Rev. Rose Mary Ibyishaka, and the whole van gives a cheer to welcome this rarity in Rwanda. Pastor Rose Mary is a joyful woman of substance, and she immediately directs us here and there as we gather more people. She speaks English quite well, and soon we have 14 people jammed into the van, and are bumping along yet another long, winding dirt road that is now mud slick. We’re on our way now to the Murambi Genocide Memorial.

10.00 a.m.

Arrival at Murambi Genocide Memorial

This memorial sits deep into the countryside atop a hill surrounded by terraced gardens and fields. The poverty that we pass here is typical of this area. At this site in 1994, was a brand new school just getting ready to open. It was quite beautiful, and would have had many students. In the early days of the genocide, the local administrative authorities urged all of the local Tutsi people who were being pursued to go there for better protection. It was an operation aimed at grouping them together in order to massacre them easily. They spent 2 weeks gathered together there without assistance. In order to diminish their ability resist, the authorities cut off water pipes. The attack was launched in the night of April 20th of 1994 by machetiers and militia with fire arms, grenades and other weapons for killing. The condemned people at Murambi who were trying to escape from the killers were systematically hunted down by the rest of the Hutu population and killed. This murdering took approx. 50,000 people that day, and their bodies were thrown into mass graves dug with heavy machinery. Some injured people, still alive were buried along with living babies suckling at the breasts of their murdered mothers.

In September of 1994, the United Nations troops came and settled there at Murambi, and began the exhumation of the bodies. The bodies were placed in the rooms at the university and covered with lime to preserve. This has created a horrific tribute to a country out of control.

The tradition is to bring flowers to the memorial. We had stopped and cut some on the way so were prepared for this. Although the rain had eased, it began to pour rain again. Several local people, one of them a shrinking little woman with a baby on her back, tried to protect us from the rain, as did a young docent named John with his umbrella. After placing our flowers, we followed a muddy path to the first of the classrooms. An old man survivor of Murambi went before us with the keys and opened one room after another. As we entered into the first room, young John went to the first body in the rows in the center, pointed to it and said in his struggling French/English “I am John, this is Papa of John.” Some had to turn from the room with this unexpected sharing. We passed in and out of approximately 10 rooms of these mummified bodies in various position of tortured death. Adults and babies.

Our man with the keys had the horrible scar of a bullet hole in his head. He told us he survived only because he was shot and laying under a pile of bodies. The other bodies helped protect him. When he could slip away, although gravely wounded, he managed to hide for several weeks, and survive to share his story.

He led us on to a large pavilion area with rows of clothes lines with the remaining clothes of the survivors. We were told that the murderers made each victim undress before being murdered. They shared the best clothes and these were the remains of those not wanted.

Many people here, including our host families, have stories to share of the genocide. One man who was 13 years old then, heard the soldiers coming and climbed up into his attic where he hid as his parents were beaten with clubd with nails in them. Their bodies were dragged into the yard, and he hid and watched his family macheted and beaten. When he could escape, he made his way to a place where he hid for 3 weeks before he was reunited with other relatives. He is now a part of a composite family that consists of a matriarch, and 11 other various relatives. The mother was the only surviving adult and has taken in the children of other family members and friends.

We’ve all heard these death stories and can only know that at least in the end of their torture, they saw the face of God. This was a heartbreaking morning filled with sadness and grief as we remembered the 10,000 that were lost here.

Noon - 5.00 p.m.

Lunch in Butare  - Visit National Museum  -Intore Dance Troupe

We left Murambi to have our lunch at the Gihindamuga Monastery, where we checked our bags to spend the night. After a quick bite to eat, we visited the National Museum of Rwanda to learn more of their history and watch the Intore native dancers. These exciting dancers and drummers make it easy to realize where these people get the jump and song they do in their churches. The congregation’s movements were easily recognizable as part of this cultural dance. Near the end of the program, the Intore pulled some of us to the floor. Pastor Rose Mary, our guide Pastor Eugene, Boyd Edmondson, Donna Doutt and Marty Cartmell all were involved in the dance. We all agreed that our Marty was getting her groove on, and although we’d seen Boyd boogy down at some of the churches, he was at the top of his form this day!

Intore Dance Troupe

5.00 p.m.

Back to Guest House House  and rest

After another long day, we returned to the monestary for dinner, and a group meeting. Since we’d been separated into our host homes for the last few days, it gave us a chance to share stories and experiences. It was a day of low and high experiences and emotions, but a day we will not soon forget. Tomorrow we will visit Pastor Rose Mary’s church, then in the afternoon, will visit the King’s Palace, the parish at Nyanza, and then take the two hour trip back to Gitarama for two more nights with our host families.

Gihindamuyaga Monastery Guest House

Friday, Sept 22

9.00 a.m. -
12.30 p.m.

Visit Karubanda Church and Imbabazi orphanage

We left the monastery this morning to begin the “world tour” visit to the Butare Parish. We started at the Karbunda Church, pastored by Rev. Rose Mary Ibyshaka, one of the eight women pastors in Rwanda. Because it was a weekday morning, her full congregation, that includes 287 children were not able to be there. However, there were enough choirs and congregation members that we had a worship service complete with the jump and sing. Pastor Marty delivered the message on behalf of our Presbytery. At the end of the service, Pastor Rose Mary presented our team leader, Kay Smith with a wooden chalice, that was made by the prisoners at the local prison. There are many skilled craftsmen that are incarcerated. The Karabunda Church is the site of the Butare Presbytery.

After our service, Pastor Rose Mary toured us to look at what the youth are learning in this parish. We saw the girls learning to crochet, embroider and sew. The only sewing machine they have is a treadle machine. We observed that the belt in the sewing machine was very thread bare and dangerously close to breaking. Pastor Rose Mary told us they practice making clothes, and recently pants for the girls. We saw the boys learning carpentry and chair repair.

We met together in the Presbytery office to discuss the needs of the Parish. Their most important needs were for materials to teach the girls, such as treadle sewing machines, baby yarn, cotton embroidery thread. School fees are a big expense, but education is high on their list. They have many orphans and HIV/AIDS women in their parish who do not know how to read and write.

During the course of our conversations, we quietly discussed among our team members, that if we each made a contribution of 15,000 francs that would give them almost enough to buy a new sewing machine that could make buttonholes. This would make their garments more saleable. In US dollars this is approximately $200, or 135,000 francs. Kay presented our gift to Pastor Rose Mary, and we gifted it in memory of Chuck Bollinger’s late daughter, Judy. Within a few minutes of joyful acceptance and discussion, the purchase of the sewing machine had been dubbed the “Judy Project”.

Butare Town

12.30 p.m.-2.00 p.m.

Lunch in Butare

We returned to the monastery for lunch and to check out, and moved on to the Butare Theological Seminary. There are presently 67 students enrolled there, with 12 of them being women. They are studying ministries for the Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist, Episcopalian, and Pentecostal service. We spent some time there touring the grounds. Pastor Rose Mary was with us, and very proud to tell us that she graduated, was married there, and also introduced her husband, who is on the staff there.

One of Hotels

Afternoon

Leaving Butare for Nyanza   -King's Palace

The next scheduled stop on this day was at the Nyazna Church in the Butare Parish. As we have discovered throughout this journey, our schedule was always running behind, and subject to change. So it was with our arrival at Nyazna. Despite our tardiness the congregation was anxiously waiting for us. Because of the late hour, there were general greetings and introductions with wonderful music from their choir. Every where we go, except in the very poorest churches, they have electric keyboards, and do a great job working it with the choir. Of course, there are always the wonderful African drums that keep the choir on beat. Pastor Marty delivered a brief message, and Kay Smith thanked the congregation for their love and kindness for us. The local pastor presented Kay with a beautiful colorful basket for which Africa is famous. After receiving this gift, we were surprised and very moved when the elders processed to us each one carrying a basket as a gift for each member of our group.

The daylight was leaving, and we never got to tour the King’s Palace or tomb, and we still had one more stop at the Gikongora Mission Parish. This church was very, very poor. The church had a dirt floor, and no windows, but did have a roof (yes, some do not have roofs, only walls). But as we’ve seen everywhere, this congregation may have been poor in wealth, but they were very rich in love. We were late, but the congregation was eagerly waiting for us. As soon as the van pulled in, the drums started beating and a procession of beautiful singing children marched out the door to extend an American handshake to us. After several songs from the choir, the “evangelist” or lay preacher talked about the need in this church. Their largest concern was for their young men and women. They want to be able to send the young women for nurses training, but need money for the uniforms. They hope if they can get some more nurses in their community, it will improve the care of the many that suffer from HIV/AIDS.

As we were loading up the van to head back to our guest homes, Pastor Eugene shared with us that his father had been the Chief Officer for the King’s Guard. As we passed through this area, he showed us his family home and related some of his and Rwanda’s history. His father, being a King’s guard, was driven from their home to Tanzania during the 1959 uprising. He grew up, attended seminary, met and married his wife there. After the 1994 genocide, he and his family returned to Rwanda, where he first served in the Kibuye Parish (where we will visit tomorrow). He said we were very near his 95-year old mother’s home, so we encouraged him to stop there to introduce us.

Pastor Eugene, his nephews, and his 95-year old mother

Evening

Leaving Nyanza for Gitarama and rest

By then, it was very dark, and we were on a terrible road, trying to get back to his mother’s home. His beautiful mother, who lives with her daughter, was very surprised and honored by our visit. But because of the lateness of the hour, the darkness in his mother’s home - which had no electric- and the impending long drive back to our host homes in Gitarama, we only stayed a few minutes.

Finally, at the end of a long and rewarding day of meeting congregations of all economic circumstances, we returned to our host homes. As always, the arrival at their homes is always a special time. Every member of the family comes to greet you. Because we had been gone for several days, they were anxious to hear of our adventures. Many of us ended up late into the evening sharing our day.

The most notable part of this day was that we were running behind schedule by almost an hour all day long. People had walked for miles in the heat and the dust, but every congregation waited with patience, excitement, and anticipation with not a word of complaint. The love of this people is never ending.

Hosting families

Saturday, Sept 23

8.00 a.m.-12.00 noon

Leaving Gitarama for Kibuye

Up and out early again this morning, we’re facing a drive of several hours to Kibuye Parish near Lake Kivu. We stopped to buy supplies for our roadside picnic that we usually have on these kind of trips. With food and baggage and us securely packed in by our faithful companion, driver, and roadie, Bien, we headed west toward some of the highest mountains yet.

Once again, surrounded by some stunning scenery, we climbed higher and higher, dropped lower and lower around winding roads. The good news about this trip is that it was all on hard top road, which makes the traveling so much easier.

(Our roadie, Bien)

Rubengera

12.00-3.00 p.m.

Lunch and rest

We stopped several times on the way. The first was to view the “source of the Nile”. The second was for our picnic. Even though we were in a very remote place, within a few minutes of arriving at this mountainous scenic overlook, several children ran to greet us.

Pastor Marty had some small yellow tablets and a box of crayons, and divided the tablets and crayons among them. The children were not quite sure what to do with the crayons, so Marty showed them that they could use them the same as pencil. They were very polite and very happy, waiving enthusiastically as we drove away.

Our next “pull-over” was to view a high waterfall, that was one of the sources that feeds Lake Kivu. As soon as we get out of the van, many children ran to us to play and sing for money. Their instruments were very crude, made of sticks and cans, but they really played wonderful music. The songs they were singing told the history of the waterfalls.

Presbyterian Bethania
Guest House
(translated from French)

3.00 p.m.-5.00 p.m.

Visit Kibuye Parish or any other

After some photographing time, we climbed in the van again to make our first scheduled stop of the day at Rubengara, a very large Presbyterian Regional office that includes schools, a nuns cloister, a hospital, orphanage, and a Friendship Center where they hold conferences and house the members of their German Partnership when they’re visiting.

Rev. Eliphas Hakizinana, the President of the Rubengera Region, greeted us and told us that this region has 27, 285 baptized member, more than 40,800 in their connection. The told us of their German Partnership, how it was set up 1997, and has been a warm, reciprocal partnering for both them and the Germans congregations. Much of the buildings and programs here were a result of their partnership.

We began our tour at the nun’s residence, and were very surprised to find that these were Presbyterian nuns. These nuns help run the orphanage and other programs there, along with teachers. One of the nuns guided us through the gardens and past the animal husbandry barns to the orphanage area. They have 407 children at this location. Some reside in home-like setting that consist of a mother and father-like couple. They children all wanted to touch us and hold our hands. They often compare their skin to ours in surprise. Sometimes are “white” faces frighten them.

We finished up our tour there by visiting the bakery. There were also sewing shops there, but many people were gone to worship service, so few residents were around.

Karongi

5.00 p.m.

Back to Guest House and rest

For the first time all week, we were on schedule as we piled into the van one more time to head to our stay at Bethany House on Lake Kivu. This is a Presbyterian guest house sitting right on this west Africa lake. The scenery was beautiful, the accommodations spartan, but praise God we had hot water today.

Hot water is a luxury in Africa, and we’ve only had it twice in our lodgings. You may be surprised to know that our host homes do not have hot water either. Nor do we have the luxury of towels and washcloths. Not expecting this, most of us have been using t-shirts for towels. Our host homes come from assorted economic situation. Some have bathrooms, some don’t. It’s a reminder of how lucky we are.

With a nice warm shower, we tuck in. Tomorrow we head back to our host homes to worship at the Gitarama Parish with our families and spend last night with these wonderful friends.

Bethania

Sunday, Sept 24

8.00 a.m.

Leaving Kibuye for Gitarama

Sunday, September 24 – We’re up at the crack of the sunrise on Lake Kivu.  We need an early breakfast to get a timely start to cover the 60 miles between Kibuye and Gitarama to be on time for worship at 9:30.  

While it was a long slow ascent to the top of these Andes-type mountains, it was a wild and careening descent back down.  We switched back constantly left to right, sometimes making horseshoe curves.  Before long, many of us were not feeling well from this continuous pitching.  We easily quelled the sickness by sharing mint gum and switching seats.  Everyone was starting to feel better by the time we rolled into Gitarama.

Bethania

9.30 a.m.-12.30 p.m.

Sunday service at Gitarama Church - Rev. Marty Cartmell and Rev. Boyd Edmonson presenting worship -

As this case is everyday, we are a bit late.  The choirs were cranking up, the drums rolling, and ever-present electric keyboard was going. 

This worship was very special for several reasons:  1. Pastor Boyd Edmondson was bringing the message; 2.  because we were meeting up with our host families again at the church to worship with them; and 3.  because we would be sharing Communion together.  We did not know there were other surprises in store.

Every one of the churches has multiple (approx. average of 6) choirs.  Many of them sing at least 2 songs prior to the message.  This takes at least an hour.  With opening prayers over, our Pastor Boyd Edmondson stepped up to the microphone, and with the help of an interpreter delivered a sermon of hope and forgiveness.

The collection process here is interesting.  Three wooden boxes are set in from the pulpit.  Each is clearly marked.  One is 1/10 (for tithing), one is for any other pledged contribution (pledges are your annual pledge, tithing is on top of that), and one for children.  The congregation comes forward in a line and puts their money in the appropriate box as they pass.  

Pastors Marty and Boyd were joined in serving Communion by Pastor Eugene and Pastor Dan from the church. 

Most of the churches had presented us with token gifts, but this church (the central church of the partnership) gifted us very generously.  The Gitarama women came forward first bearing a wood carved plaque.  Gertrude Zuplasoni, the host “mama” for Kay Smith and Donna Doutt, explained the symbolism in the carving of the gourds of mile and butter, and the hands reaching out to each other. 

More women came forward with five gifts for each of the women.  Each package contained banners, baskets, and beautiful green ceremonial dresses.  The women dressed Kay, Donna, Betty Grunstra, Sally Carrier and Pastor Marty Cartmell in their gowns. 

More people came and called men forward, and Boyd Edmondonson, Jack Loucks, Chuck Bollinger and Fred Carrier were all presented with canvas safari hats. 

With the men in their hats and the women in their dresses, the drums started beating a call for the congregation jump and sing.  We were quickly surrounded by many dancers, adults and children, and we all danced until exhausted. 

Sunday School Class
 

12.30a.m.-1.30 p.m.

Lunch in a local restaurant -

After more prayers, we dismissed to a local restaurant with the Gitarama Rwanda Partnership members and our host families. 

We’re all getting good with the traditional fair of rice, beans, pureed greens and fruit.  Some are getting fairly blasé about eating goat meat.  Unlike the common joke, it does not taste like chicken.  It is more like beef.  If given the opportunity to try it, you may be surprised to find that you like it. 

After lunch and a time of fellowship, we returned to our guest homes before our final meeting of the Rwanda Partnership scheduled for 5:00. 

Gitarama

1.30 p.m.

Back to families and rest

Hosting families

4.00 p.m.-5.30 p.m.

Visitors to meet with Partnership Committee -

Surprisingly, this meeting started on time.  But not surprisingly, the electric was off at this time making it just a little bit difficult to see.  Sporadic electric outages are common on a day to day basis.  Daylight in Gitarama is approx. 12 hours long, from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.  Since it was getting late in the evening, it was getting a little more difficult to see. 

The group exchanged greetings all around.  The President of the Gitarama Region, Pastor Eugene Rubunda, who had been our guide, companion, and translator all week, shared information on our partner region. 

The Gitarama Region had been accepted in the Presbytery in 1997.  It has 35 churches, with 4,528 members.  He said they have 5 goals for themselves:  1. be self-propagating; 2. be self-governing; 3. to be self-supporting churches; 4. be self-caring; and 5. be self-theologizing (teaching their own Bible classes and Sunday schools. 

He shared that when they heard Americans were coming, they did not expect all adults.  Most of all, they did not expect that we would want to share their homes.  No other visitors from any other country had ever asked to do that before.  They were very pleased that we wanted to know them personally, and not just visit their projects and churches.

After our visit, they were sure that we could have a strong partnership. 

Each member of our team took turns sharing briefly about our experiences, and each of us thanked our host families.  Many of us had become very close with them, and we knew we’d be leaving soon, so it was our last chance to publicly thank them.  Emotions ran deep with these people we had come to love. 

After all these thanks and appreciations were exchanged, Pastor Eugene presented the team with a custom design wood-carved plaque showing special symbols of the Partnership.  We were then presented with a beautifully hand-painted banner showing the Gitarama Parish, our partnership association, and the two differently-colored hands joined together.

It was the perfect gift to close our time in the Gitarama Parish with our Rwanda partners.

Gitarama Regional office

5.30 p.m.

Back to families packing, and rest -

Once again, we packed up our gifts and headed back to our host families to pack.   

What a task that was!  Many of us had purchased items at the National Museum the day we’d seen the Intore dancers, and had no more room for them in our luggage.  Each in our own homes, were giving away clothes, snacks, accessories, and some event left shoes behind.  These items were very much appreciated as gifts and allowed us more room in our luggage for souvenir and gift items.

Boxes are not easy to come by in Rwanda, but our families came to the rescue.

Exhausted from the whirlwind scheduled, scrubbed and freshened to the best of our means, we all went to bed for the last time in Gitarama. 

Tomorrow we return to Kigali.

Hosting families

Monday, Sept 25 

8.00 a.m.

Leaving Gitarama for Kigali -

We are up and out and as on time as things are here on Rwanda time.  We’re headed for Kigali.  

We lurch and pitch our way back, thankful for the hardtop road.

This is the day we are to meeting the Blairsville United’s Compassion child, Muvenyi, in the town of Nyamata.

Gitarama

9.00 a.m.

Arrival in Kigali -  

We pick up the Compassion representative/interpreter, Esperanza, at their Kigali office.  Nyamata is considered a suburb of Kigali, but is very far away.  We find out later, this will be our longest and worst travel day. 

The road to Nyamata is being prepared as large, wide highway, which will eventually lead to a new international airport south of Bugesara.  But for now, the road is brutal dirt and rock.  Our van pounds and jars us mile after mile.  We have to hang on all the time to keep from being thrown from the seat or bounced off the ceiling. 

Too long after we depart, we finally arrive a beautiful Presbyterian church surrounded by flowering shrubs.  This is just a quick stop to “fetch water” – a phrase for la toilette.  We greet Pastor Thaddeus, and are surprised to see two mazungas (white men) there.  Naturally, we ask what they’re doing there, and they tease us by telling us that we’ll find out later. 

EPR Guest House

1.00 a.m.

Leaving Kigali for Nyamata :

After this brief stop, we’re back in the van to continue into the actual town of Nyamata.  It’s here that we arrive at the Compassion  office to meet the boy, Muvenyi. 

We’re all ushered into a narrow office.  When we’re settled around the table, a tall handsome young man is introduced as Muvenyi.  We all applaud and cheer and start snapping pictures.  Our Jack Loucks, is a member of the group that has sponsored this child for many years.  They embrace, and it’s an emotional moment. 

Jack presents Muvenyi with a Timex Indiglo watch and a Pittsburgh Steelers shirt.  After more photos, the team leaves Jack, Muvenyi, and the interpreter for some private time.

 While they’re becoming acquainted, we hang around in the yard outside the building.  It is noon recess and the uniformed children quietly watch us.  Some show us their study books, and we’ll all surprised at the difficulty of their math problems.

 A representative of Compassions tells us that they serve 285 children in their school.  They have 5 class teachers, and 4 skill teachers.  He takes us to the first school library that we’ve seen. There are some English language books there too.  There were also some very good maps, and we show the man where on the map we are from. 

Our time for the Compassion visit has come to and end.  More pictures are taken, and we’re all aboard again to return Muvenyi to his home.  

After dropping him off, we bounced a long a very narrow residential dirt street and come to a stop in front of a modest home.  The front door opens and one of the mazungas we met earlier stepped out followed by Pastor Thaddeus. 

We had arrived at Pastor’s house for lunch and a meeting to formally introduce the mazungas.  The home was small and simple, but adequate.  Pastor’s wife served us the basic meal of rice, beans, vegetables and some pasta.   

After we ate, we are offered a formal explanation of the white man’s purpose here.  He was Tim Yoss, come to Nyamata on behalf of the Rafiki Foundation, a Texas faith-based operation that builds villages for orphans. 

Rafiki is the Swahili word for friend.  Rafiki Villages had been built in many parts of Africa for orphans.  Five are completed, four are being built. Construction had already begun on one very near Pastor Thaddeus’ church.  We all got in the van to go see the site.  The $2-1/2 million project, set on 40 acres already had several foundations on the site.  Water tanks were installed.  All work was being done by paid locals.  This place would eventually have 12 family-style homes, each housing 10 children and a house mother.  Because her full-time responsibility would be for the children, there would also be additional help for her with laundry and cooking.  There will also be a dining hall, dormitory and others buildings built as well.  

After a walk about at the site, we loaded up the van to head down to Pastor Thaddeus’ church for a time of fellowship with him and his elders.  Although we politely did not ask about it, we noted that the pastor and a few other men had obvious healed head wounds that indicated they were survivors of the genocide. 

Although this was not a church service, we were entertained by the choir.  We congratulated Pastor on his thriving church, and his good fortune that the Rafiki village was built in his community.  The children from the village will attend the school that his church has built. 

Exhausted from the trip here, the heat, and the bon-jarring ride, we still had one more stop on the agenda…the Nyamata Genocide Memorial.  This was the site of a Catholic church that held approximately 10,000 persons during the genocide.  The priest had let the people come here for safety, and then let them be murdered as they sat in their pews.  They offered little resistance because they their situation was hopeless. 

The tour guide showed us the line on the wall of how deep the blood and bodies were, and the bullet holes in the ceiling and walls.  This church has never been used again as a church, only a memorial. 

We followed the tour guide to the lower level that was filled with rack after rack of skulls and bones.  She explained that they knew how many bodies were there because they had a skull for each person.   There were so many, that it was very difficult for us to look. 

She led us on out into the memorial garden where 40,000 others who were murdered were buried. 

As we’ve seen at other memorials, these are very moving experiences.  Every district has their own memorial, with the National Memorial being situation in Kigali.  The National Museum had been our schedule earlier in the week, but we had to drop it.  Now it is re-scheduled for Tuesday morning. 

Once again, for the last time today, we pile into the van for the jarring return to Kigali. 

Bugesera



Muvunyi
Blairsville United Presbyterian Church's Compassion Child

5.00 p.m.

Leaving Bugesera for Kigali -

We have used the word exhausted many times, but this particular day was the worst.  We have one more event for the day.  We are to meet President Elysee and the Partnership Committee.  We are all battling with full-out exhaustion and only want to bath and bed.  This night we will be in a place with hot water, and we can’t wait. 

However, we move on to our fellowship dinner.  This meal turned out to be one of the best we’d had in Kigali.  No goat, but beef and chicken, wonderful vegetables and a salad plate.   

After the dinner, there was an exchange of thanks and appreciation.  President Elysee presented our team with a beautiful embroidered cloth, made by hand by his wife, Josephine.  It recognized our partnership. 

Our team leader, Kay Smith, presented the Rwanda Presbytery with two envelopes.  One had a cash contribution to our Gitarama partner to be used as they needed.  The other envelope contained a cash gift to the Mpushi Parish, in memory of Rev. Boyd Edmondson's daughter, Katie.  Mpushi Parish is a small, rural congregation, not unlike that of Pastor Boyd's.  Although not large, or wealthy, their spirit is high. 

We followed by being in a circle of joined hands as we all recited the Lord’s Prayer in our own language. 

We recessed to the outside area to take a group picture.  We were surprised to see Tim and Patty Yoss from the Rafiki Foundation coming into the courtyard.  They came to say good-by to us and to give Kay Smith a Rotarian flag to take home.   

After the final group a picture was taken, we were free to go to our rooms.  

This was a day we were able to be on-line for internet, so we set up the computer to check email from family and friends.  Others went straight away to shower and bed. 

We are running very low on energy.  Our wonderful hosts have filled our time with nearly non-stop events and it’s taking a toll on us, and also our hosts. 

Tonight we will sleep hard, hopefully to wake on Tuesday morning refreshed and ready to hit the ground running again.

EPR Guest House

8.00 - 9.00 a.m.

Morning meditation -

This morning, we’re feeling more renewed, and looking for a lighter, more casual day.   

We begin with morning devotions at the Presbytery office with the staff there.  We recognized their opening hymn as Bringing in the Sheaves, and were pleased to able to sing along in our own language. 

After worship time, we met with two representatives from the medical staff to learn about their HIV/AIDS programs.  They began participating in the AIDS programs in 2002.  There are two hospitals and four health centers with which they are associated. 

Thirty of the Presbyterian churches have HIV/AIDS awareness and testing programs.  They also have 32 support associations of people with AIDS that serve more than 1,543 families.  Aid goes out to approx. 733 dependents in secondary students, and 2093 primary students to help pay school fees, materials, and uniforms.  This is mostly in rural areas. 

The program is not church-funded, but grant funded by several world banks. The Presbytery programs do not distribute medicines.  Only the government does that.  Contributions to the Presbytery for HIV/AIDS are always welcome.

EPR office

President Elysee was disappointed that we missed the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre earlier in the week, so this is planned for today. 

The tour was partially led/partially self-guided, but took almost two hours.  There are 150,000 people entombed here.  The displays not only reflect the Rwandan genocide, but also other genocides in history.  The motto here is “never again”.  This is the last genocide memorial we are to see.  All of them have been very moving.  It’s hard to image that one person could kill their neighbor or family member with so little remorse. 

If all genocidaires were tried in standard court, it would take 100-200 years.  The country has resorted to local justice courts.  They meet on a certain day of the week, usually in a shady grove or public square.  We have seen these taking place several times this week.  You may also see samples of one in the film Sometimes in April, available through the Resource Center library. 

Some local person must testify to the accused’s guilt, and if the accused is remorseful and asks forgiveness, he may receive a lighter sentence.

On our way back to the Presbytery office to meet with President Elysee, we stop at the CFD, a center for pastor training.  This organization services 12 denominations with 1500 students learning by extension.  The program focuses on a “train the trainer” model.  They produce and distribute the resources from here, have a library and AIDS awareness office in addition to some other administration offices. 

Other than meeting with President Elysee for a de-briefing before our departure, this is our last scheduled stop of the day.

On the way back to the guest house, Pastor Eugene offers us 15 minutes of shopping in the local market.  Suddenly, we’ve got an adrenalin boost.  We’re out of the van as soon as it stops, running from shop to shop gathering jewelry, baskets, carving and textiles.  Before too long we hear the familiar refrain we picked up from Pastor Rose Mary as she sheparded us in Butare…”Brothers and Sisters, we must go!” 

Back to the van we go, ooohing and aaahing over our purchases. 

President Elysee comes to greet us and we gather on the covered porch outside the restaurant.  We discuss our observances of our time there, and make some tentative plans for promoting the partnership and projects, as well as a visit by a Rwanda team to the United States.  Our hope and dreams for this partnership are high.  We will prayer for them, they will pray for us, and we will move forward in our support, love, and caring for each other.